Forbidden Pages

Chapter 18: Breaking Point

Emma felt her hands shaking as she finished her final presentation in front of the class. The last few days had been an exhausting whirlwind of projects, deadlines, and late-night study sessions, and on top of it all, the constant worry over her relationship with Ryland had taken a toll. Every glance from her classmates, every questioning look from Sarah, felt like a threat to the secret she held so closely.

As she wrapped up her speech, she glanced at Ryland, who gave her a brief nod of approval. His gaze was warm, reassuring, but the intensity of his expression seemed to hold a silent warning—stay cautious, stay careful. She returned to her seat, feeling a mix of relief and unease as the class ended.

Sarah caught up with her in the hallway as they exited, her face lit up with excitement. "That presentation was amazing! You sounded like a total pro up there."

Emma forced a smile, her mind still racing from the adrenaline. "Thanks, Sarah. I really appreciate it."

As they walked down the hallway together, Sarah nudged her playfully. "You've been so busy lately; I barely see you outside of class. Are you secretly working on some mystery project or something?"

Emma felt her pulse quicken, but she laughed it off. "No mystery. Just, you know, trying to keep up with all the work."

Sarah chuckled. "Well, don't forget you have friends! We miss you, you know."

Emma nodded, guilt creeping in as she tried to keep her face neutral. She hadn't meant to grow distant from her friends, but every spare moment, every ounce of energy she had, seemed to revolve around either school or her relationship with Ryland.

They parted ways at the building's entrance, and as soon as Sarah was out of sight, Emma texted Ryland.

"Can we meet after class? Need to talk."

He responded within seconds.

"Library, third floor, 6 PM?"

Emma's heart quickened. She knew they needed to be careful, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were nearing some kind of breaking point. She was beginning to question how much longer they could keep this up—balancing the secrecy, the risk, and the sacrifices they were making to be together.

Later That Evening

The library was quiet as Emma made her way to the third floor, the dim lighting and hushed atmosphere adding a sense of intimacy to their meeting spot. She spotted Ryland in the back corner, his expression unreadable as he looked up at her approach.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice warm but tinged with a hint of worry. "You looked incredible up there today. That presentation was flawless."

Emma managed a smile, but she felt the weight of everything pressing down on her, making it hard to fully enjoy the compliment. She took a seat across from him, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

"Thank you," she murmured. "But, Ryland... this—" She paused, struggling to find the words. "This is getting harder every day."

Ryland's gaze softened, his expression full of sympathy and understanding. "I know. I feel it too."

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Emma took a deep breath, finally voicing the thoughts that had been haunting her for days. "I feel like I'm lying to everyone. To Sarah, to my friends, even to myself sometimes. I want to be with you, but I don't know how much longer I can keep hiding."

Ryland reached across the table, his hand covering hers. "Emma, if this is too much, if you feel like—"

"No," she interrupted, her voice fierce. "It's not that. I want this—I want us. But I'm afraid of what will happen if... if things slip. If someone finds out."